Repair/replace gothic window muntons

[vtattebury]

Hi all!!

1904 Victorian-ish in NJ.

All original windows, most storms, wavy glass, woohoo!! I’ve already done a little repair of the worst sashes (glass broken, welded shut) with good results. Sarco M, learning about Blop.

The real question is this— I have three “gothic” arched windows in dire need of rescue. The muntons, and sometimes even the sashes are split. I don’t trust my handiwork yet to tackle those, and have been quoted about $3000 to recreate them (each!). I’ve read a little about epoxy, but not sure how that’ll hold up, or if I’ll just do more damage.

Help!! I might be willing to send them out for repair, depending on how the economy goes over the next few months. But I’m open to advice on how to save the muntons myself.

Trying to attach pics...

[Gothichome]

Oh, the versatility of a four square all the revival styles rolled up in one home. Nice home you have there VTattebury and welcome to the District.
I would be tempted to repair them myself. Take them out, remove the glass,stripthe paint and see what you have left. As seen, I would disassemble completely. The cracked stile could be replied using modern construction adhesive the ‘v’ were the mutton’s meet can be filled and shaped with albatron if not so bad as to have lost its rigiddetry, you've discovered the magic stuff called blot. It will take time though, and there is a bit of satisfaction in doing it yourself.

[vtattebury]

Ah, a Foursquare! I’ve always called it a CraftsTorian...! It’s got some of the decorative elements like corbels and the gothic windows, but nothing too ornate like a prime Victorian.

I’ll look up the Albatron, etc. I have a fear that as soon as I take the glass out, the whole thing will disintegrate before my eyes, but I’ve got to do something lest it continue to decay.

I just looked— by Albatrol I guess you mean Liquid Wood and WoodEpox? I just watched their video and it seems like a great product.

Thanks for the tips!

[Mick_VT]

I'm pretty sure those windows are fairly easily saveable. It would certainly be cheaper to restore them fully than to replace them - even if you got a skilled tradesperson to do them for you

[vtattebury]

Thanks for the encouragement Mick—

I’ve only found one guy in NJ, and he said if he did it it would be nearly the same price to repair vs. replace, but I think he wanted to mill all new muttons. Thinking of heading west toward PA to see if I can find some good PA Dutch/Amish craftsmen.

[Gothichome]

VTattebury, a four square is a generic name for a home built square (or close to square) usually with a centre hall and rooms on either side but some times seen with a side hall like your home. They were a very popular style of home built late Victorian well into the twentieth century, and still being built to this day. The great benefit. Of the shape was it’s adaptability to many decoration styles and an almost endless variety of style mixes. I see in yours a mix of Gothic and classical elements with a heavy Craftsman influence. Remove the Gothic windows, change the colour palette and you have a craftsman, remove the Gothic windows and paint everything white you have a Greek revival, leave the lancets, add some varge boards and paint details in three or four colours and you have a full on Victorian.